Data Points

Hello!!

As promised, this summer update is being provided to inform you of our scheduled trainings for evaluators and ARD facilitators for the 2021-22 school year. Sessions will be open for registration beginning today July 15, 2021 unless otherwise noted.

Additionally, you will find additional updates to keep you informed regarding the Dyslexia Handbook and the COVID Recovery Act. As TEA provides guidance on the new legislation or changes to processes additional updates will be included in my newsletters beginning in August.

Finally, please help me get the word out! If you know of someone who would benefit from the information provided in this newsletter, please share!

See you soon!

Amy

Region 10 Session for NEW Evaluators

Eval 101- New Evaluation Staff Meeting: Advice and Strategies for Your First Year

8/6/2021 9:00-4:00 Session ID 2638230

Are you a new LSSP, Diagnostician, SLP, or Dyslexia Evaluator? Not sure what you need to know to put your shiny new credentials to good use? Have no fear! The Region 10 Evaluation Team is here!

This session will cover some important basics for individuals who are new to the work of evaluation, interpretation, and report writing.

Essential Elements of the FIE

The following series is designed for educational diagnosticians who are interested in developing or deepening their skills as an evaluator. Session will be presented by Region 10 Evaluation Consultant Amy Smith. Each full day session will be offered in the fall and spring.

Planning the FIE for Educational Diagnosticians

(9/10/2021) Session ID: 2638291

(1/21/2022) Session ID: 2638294

In this session participants will learn how to successfully prepare for and conduct a review of existing evaluation data that meets child find and evaluation procedure requirements and leads to a thorough and quality FIE. Evaluators will apply their learning through interactive activities and walk away with practical tools they can use in their daily work.

Selecting and Administering Assessments for the Educational Diagnostician

(10/8/2021) Session ID: 2638292

(2/11/2021) Session ID: 2638295

In this session participants will focus on the systematic selection of assessments needed to answer the referral question and how to use data from other sources and other evaluators on the team in order to conduct a thorough and meaningful evaluation while avoiding unnecessary testing.

Writing Impactful FIEs for the Educational Diagnostician

(11/12/2021) Session ID: 2638293

(4/14/2022) Session ID: 2638296

In this session participants will learn how to write effective FIE reports that are in alignment with the evaluation procedures framework while providing a quality report written in language that leads to a clear understanding of the student’s strengths and areas of need. During this interactive session evaluators will apply their learning and leave with practical strategies and tools to support them in their daily work.

Virtual Lunch and Learn Sessions

The Virtual Lunch and Learn sessions will be offered from 11:30-1:30 and will focus on a topic that will deepen the understanding of the evaluation process. These sessions will include an optional activity designed to inform the evaluator’s practices and knowledge of the topic discussed. Activities may be completed synchronously or asynchronously. Credit for the session is dependent on the completion of the activity.

Session 1 of 4: Legal Requirements for Child Find and Evaluation Procedures

9/23/2021 Session ID: 2638240

1/27/2022 Session ID: 2638246

Session 2 of 4: Digging in to Test Manuals to Understand Scores and Constructs Measured

10/26/2021 Session ID: 2638242

2/24/2022 Session ID: 2638250

Session 3 of 4: Process for reviewing your FIE for Compliance and Impact

11/18/2021 Session ID: 2638244

4/26/2022 Session ID: 2638253

Session 4 of 4: Presenting the FIE to the Parent and ARD Committee

3/31/2022 Session ID: 2638252

Dyslexia and Dysgraphia Determination in the FIE

In this full day session participants will be provided a framework for selecting assessments and analyzing results when conducting evaluations for the suspected condition of dyslexia and dysgraphia as part of an FIE. Participants will be provided practical tools for use when collaborating with others on the evaluation team. This session is designed for evaluation team members responsible for conducting these evaluations. This may include educational diagnosticians, dyslexia teachers or CALTS. Amy Smith, Special Populations Evaluation Consultant and Nancy Disterlic, Region 10 Dyslexia Consultant will co-present this session.

9/17/2021 Session ID: 2638379

1/14/2022 Session ID: 2638380

This next set of sessions will be presented by various state and national experts in evaluation through a combination of in person sessions and webinars. Some are not yet available for registration, but will be posted by August 2, 2021 as noted below.

Collaborating on D/HH Evaluations with Dr. Gail Cheramie and Dr. Jyutika Mehta

10/11/2021 Session ID: 2640861

This full day in person session will focus on the legal requirements of the evaluation process, selecting appropriate assessment tools, interpretation of results and components of an FIE for a student who is deaf or hard of hearing (D/HH). Participants will develop and deepen their understanding of the process for conducting these evaluations when an additional disability impacting learning and development including SLD and ID may be present. Finally, using case studies, practical tools and sample write ups that can be used by evaluation teams will be shared during this session. D/HH teachers, speech and language pathologists and educational diagnosticians are encouraged to attend.

Assessment for Low-Incidence Disabilities: Struggles and Solutions with Ashley Arnold

10/29/2021 8:00-11:30 am Session ID: 2640039

Assessment of low incidence disabilities is a complex process. A score on any test gives an estimate of performance in a particular area, compared to a reference. Standard scores must be interpreted in the wider context of results from a range of diagnostic information sources. Assessments should not be used as a single source of information for diagnostic or intervention decisions. This presentation will review different assessments that can be utilized in a holistic evaluation. Participants will learn how to use clinical validity data as a qualitative source of information. Participants will review the differences between norm referenced assessments, criterion referenced assessment, and functional assessments for a variety of low incidence populations, including but not limited to deaf/hard of hearing, visual impairments, intellectual disability, and autism. Participants will learn how to make individualized, student specific recommendations and interventions for school-based teams.

Decisions, Decisions: Is It a Speech Language Impairment or Specific Learning Disability in Listening Comprehension/Oral Expression? with Ashley Arnold

10/29/2021 12:30-3:30 Session ID: 2640040

IEP Teams are often faced with a conundrum in deciding between a Speech Language Impairment or a Specific Learning Disability in Listening Comprehension/Oral Expression. This presentation will provide a platform for understanding the scope of language and its importance to academic success. Participants will review a variety of formal assessment measures, as well as learn about the redundancy in testing between IEP team members. Participants will leave with explicit interventions and accommodations for these students, as well as other resources that can be implemented in the classroom tomorrow. The role that MTSS and progress monitoring plays in this decision will also be explored.

The Impact of Learning Loss and Eligibility Determination with Dr. Andrea Ogonosky

2/4/2022 Session ID: 2640862

During this full day in person session, Dr. Ogonosky will teach participants how to analyze data in light of learning loss due to COVID and remote learning during the 2020-21 school year. She will share a pragmatic approach and key questions to ask to guide referral teams and evaluators through this process informed by her experiences as a field supervisor of school psychology interns in the school systems.

Core Selective Evaluation Process (C-SEP) 3 Part Series

This three part series will be presented by Dr. Tammy Stephens-Pisecco one of the authors of this PSW model along with Dr. Sarah Holman who has trained extensively on this theory in conjunction with the authors. Attendance is a MUST for all evaluators new to the model and offers an opportunity for those already practicing C-SEP to refine and deepen their knowledge. The first two sessions will be in person full day sessions. The third will be a three hour webinar. If you register by August 30th and attend you will be provided an opportunity to receive a C-SEP Manual.

C-SEP Training Part 1

9/30/2021 Session ID: 2640875 (will be open for registration on 8/2/2021)

The first of these three sessions will provide an overview of the this model including practical steps for application by the practitioner.

C-SEP Training Part 2

10/28/2021 Session ID: 2640880 (will be open for registration on 8/2/2021)

The second of these three sessions will break down the process for triangulating your data in order to determine patterns using a case study approach.

C-SEP Training Part 3 (webinar)

1/11/2022 Session ID: 2640860 (will be open for registration on 8/2/2021)

The third of these three sessions will provide a framework for the FIE when C-SEP was used to determine a specific learning disability.

2021-22 LIVE Webinars for Evaluators

The following LIVE 3 hour webinars will be provided from 10:00-1:00. Once registered, participants will be provided handouts and a zoom link a few days prior to the session.

A Review of Current Legal Cases: Child Find, Evaluation and FAPE with Dr. Gail Cheramie

9/21/2021 Session ID: 2640855

Since corrective action was issued by the federal government in 2018, Texas has worked to build processes and provide guidance to ensure students suspected of having a disability are found, identified and evaluated in a timely manner. In this session, Dr. Cheramie will review recent Texas cases regarding child find and evaluation in an effort to make us aware of what is being found by hearing officers and how they are ruling on cases regarding these issues.

Executive Functioning and Determining Impacts on Learning with Dr. Gail Cheramie and Andrea Ogonosky

11/15/2021 Session ID: 2640856

In this session Dr. Cheramie and Dr. Ogonosky will provide a overview of executive functioning, steps for analyzing quantitative and qualitative data in light of executive functioning and differentiating between deficits in executive functioning and cognitive processing. Participants will be provided practical tools and resources which will assist the practitioner in their analysis and synthesis of data.

Collaborative Evaluations for students with Visual Impairments Part 1 of 2 with Marnee Loftin, LSSP

11/2/2021 Session ID: 2640857

This first of two sessions will focus on the legal requirements of the evaluation process, selecting appropriate assessment tools, interpretation of results and components of an FIE for a student who is visually impaired. Case studies, practical tools and sample write ups that can be used by evaluation teams will be shared during this session. VI teachers, educational diagnosticians, and LSSPs are encouraged to attend as a team if possible.

Collaborative Evaluations for students with Visual Impairments Part 2 of 2 with Marnee Loftin, LSSP

11/16/2021 Session ID: 2640858 (not available for registration until 8/2/2021)

This second of two sessions will focus on evaluations of students who are visually impaired with the suspicion of an additional disability such as a specific learning disability or intellectual disability. Dr. Loftin will discuss the frequency other disabilities are found to be co-morbid with a visual impairment as well as how to analyze your data appropriately when determining if the visual impairment is a contributory versus primary reason for learning difficulties.VI teachers, educational diagnosticians, and LSSPs are encouraged to attend as a team if possible.

SAVE THE DATE - REGIONS 10 & 11 EVALUATION SYMPOSIUM

Region 10 is excited to announce that we will be offering the 1st annual Interdisciplinary and Collaborative Evaluations (ICE) Symposium in collaboration with Region 11. This all day event will feature a variety of breakout sessions designed to provide all multidisciplinary evaluation team members (LSSPs, Diags, SLPs, OTs, PTs, VI/OM, etc) with valuable insights and information about engaging more integrated comprehensive evaluations

In addition to the wonderful variety of sessions we will be offering, Region 10 is looking for some presenters from our LEAs who are interested in providing a session for our symposium. We are interested in getting some 'boots on the ground' practical advice that our evaluators can hear about from people who are doing amazing things in their LEA.

If you or a group of evaluators are interested in presenting, please develop a brief proposal for the session. The content of the proposal should consist of the following components:

1. COVER PAGE:

a. Title of the proposed work

b. Names, titles, and affiliations of presenter(s)

c. Date of submission

2. ABSTRACT

The abstract should be on a separate page and be no more than 175 words in length. It should summarize the focus of the presentation, including the learning objectives of the presentation/poster. Please do not use any personal identifying information in your abstract.

3. SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT

The summary should be no more than 900 words in length. This section should include a summary of the purpose and learning objectives of the presentation. It should also discuss how the proposed session will help others improve collaboration and interdisciplinary work across multidisciplinary teams (MDTs). Please do not use any personal identifying information in your abstract.

Submissions will be accepted now through November 30th, 2021.

If you are ready to submit the proposal, click the button below!

Virtual Roundtable Q&A for Diagnosticians and ARD Facilitators

8/23/2021 Session ID: 2638232

5/10/2021 Session ID: 2638275

The roundtable meetings will focus on answering evaluation and ARD related questions to support the professional growth and learning of educational diagnosticians and ARD facilitators. Specific district policy and procedure based questions will not be discussed. Those who sign up will be provided a link where questions can be shared prior to the meeting. These can be specific to situations, however no personally identifiable information about a student or other staff members will be shared. These sessions will not be recorded.

ARD Manager 101: How to Stay Cool When Conversations Get Heated/ARD Facilitation

Ever dreaded going to an ARD meeting that you knew was not going to go well? How about having conservations you knew not everyone would agree with? In this interactive session, you will learn strategies for changing the course when a conversation during an ARD/IEP meeting begins to get heated.

8/13/2021 Session ID 2638285

3/23/2022 Session ID 2638288

ARD Manager: Before During and After the ARD Meeting

This session is intended for new personnel assigned to the role of ARD manager or facilitator. In this session participants will receive an over view of the IEP process including systems for organizing and preparing for ARD meetings, ARD membership, parent participation, how to write meaningful deliberations and determining when a revision to an IEP is needed.

10/22/2021 9:00- 4:00 Session ID: 2638284

The State Board of Education has reopened the 2018 Dyslexia Handbook and made some proposed revisions. A summary of items reviewed and actions taken at that meeting can be found HERE on TEA's website. At this time these revisions have not been accepted. There will be an opportunity for public comment and opportunity for those interested to register for public hearing at the September SBOE meeting.

5. Proposed Amendment to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter C, Other Provisions, §74.28, Students with Dyslexia and Related Disorders
(First Reading and Filing Authorization)

This item presents for first reading and filing authorization a proposed amendment to 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter C, Other Provisions, §74.28, Students with Dyslexia and Related Disorders. The proposed amendment would update the Dyslexia Handbook: Procedures Concerning Dyslexia and Related Disorders (Dyslexia Handbook) adopted as Figure: 19 TAC §74.28(c) to clarify requirements related to student evaluation and the required dyslexia screening for students in Kindergarten and Grade 1. Statutory authority is the Texas Education Code (TEC), §7.102(c)(28) and §38.003(a) and (c).

Summary of Proposed Amendments to the Dyslexia Handbook

Draft of Proposed Amendments

Please note the proposed amendments currently include the chapters of the Dyslexia Handbook and not the appendices. Appendices will be updated once the SBOE takes action on changes to the chapters.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: The public comment period on the proposal begins July 23, 2021, and ends at 5:00 p.m. on August 27, 2021. The SBOE will take registered oral and written comments on the proposal at the appropriate committee meeting in September 2021 in accordance with the SBOE board operating policies and procedures. A request for a public hearing on the proposal submitted under the Administrative Procedure Act must be received by the commissioner of education not more than 14 calendar days after notice of the proposal has been published in the Texas Register on July 23, 2021.

NEW: Child Find Training for LEA Staff

This course is intended to provide participants with a fundamental understanding of the definition and purpose of child find and requirements for Local Education Agencies (or LEAs). The training will address the topics of an overview of child find, the key child find populations, and LEA responsibilities, including: written board policies and special education operating procedures; public awareness programs; coordination activities with other agencies; notification to families; targeted outreach to primary referral sources; special education referral procedures, including screenings; maintenance and reporting of accurate data, and professional development and training for staff.

This professional development session is a self-paced online course that will be completed within the Region 4 Canvas instance.

The course registration can be accessed via the Region 4 ESC Professional Development at esc4.net and by entering Session ID 1603655 in the Search PD box.

It is about 45 minutes to 1.5 hours and free for all.

REPRINTED FROM JIM WALSH’S “DAILY DAWG” WITH PERMISSION FROM THE WALSH GALLEGOS LAW FIRM.

THE COVID-19 SPECIAL EDUCATION RECOVERY ACT

JUNE 10, 2021 JIM WALSH

SB 89 requires an IEP supplement for any student who was served in special education for either or both of the “COVID Years”—2019-20 and 2020-21. The supplement must include 1) if the FIIE was completed during either of those years, and if so, if it was done on time; 2) if the initial IEP was developed during either of those two years, and if so, if it was done on time; 3) whether special services for the student, during either of the two years, were “interrupted, reduced, delayed, suspended, or discontinued; and 4) whether compensatory services are appropriate based on the first three factors “or any other factors.” This supplement is not required if the student’s IEP for 2020-21 already addresses these four factors. These supplements must be completed for each child subject to this section by May 1, 2022. The provisions in the Education Code that limit what can be required to be put into an IEP do not apply to these supplements.

DAWG BONE: NOT SURPRISING TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

Subscriptions to the Daily Dawg are available at www.edlawdawg.com

If you need training or technical support with child find, evaluations or ARDs, please reach out!

Email: amy.smith@region10.org
Website: https://www.region10.org/programs/evaluation-special-education/overview/
Location: Region 10 Education Service Center, East Spring Valley Road, Richardson, TX, USA
Phone: 972-348-1784